Gymnanthes lucida, commonly known as shiny oysterwood or crabwood, is a species of flowering plant in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, that is native to southern Florida in the United States, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America.
Gymnanthes lucida is an evergreen shrub or tree with a narrow crown; it can grow up to 9 metres tall. The bole can be 20cm in diameter, with broad buttresses at the base.
The tree produces a beautiful wood, but it is generally only available in small dimensions and so is not much used.Small to medium tree with and erect trunk and narrow crown. Trunks to 6-8 inches in diameter. Bark gray to dark reddish-brown, outer bark flaking to expose light brown inner bark. Leaves tropical semi-deciduous, dark green, about 2-4 inches long.Habitats: Hammocks.
Soils: Moist, well-drained limestone soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements: Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.Salt Wind Tolerance: Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation.Drought Tolerance: Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade.Flower Color: Female flowers red, males green.Flower Characteristics: Inconspicuous; the flowers are unisexual.Flowering Season: All year; peak spring-summer.Fruit: Inconspicuous green capsule turning brown at maturity.Wildlife and Ecology: Gray lichens grow directly on the leaves. The flowers are wind pollinated.Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from seed.
